InDesign v Quark: Master Page Items

Quark

Items placed on Master Pages in Quark are no longer locked on regular pages, as in previous versions of Quark. For example, if you place a picture or text box on a master page and then go to page 1, you can manipulate that box with either the Content tool or Item tool. These 'local' changes are ignorant of the Master page. There is a Preference (Print Layout > General) for deciding what to do with these 'local' changes. You can either Keep the changes or Delete them. When you have Keep on, and you replace the page with the Master, the changed item remains. If you have Delete on, which is preferable, the changed item is deleted when the master replaces the page.

InDesign

Items placed on a Master page in InDesign are inherently locked on regular pages. This keeps those items away from you while you lay other elements on top of them. A Master page item can be accessed and changed by Command (Control) + Shift clicking on it. There's also an option in the Pages Panel to Hide Master Items on a selected page or range of pages. This effectively removes master page items from a page.

Significance

In my humble opinion, Master page items are placed on the Master pages specifically to add consistent items that will appear throughout a publication with little variation and change. Once the items are in place, having the flexibility to change those items is great, but I can see potential issues with Quark's approach. It's too easy to accidentally select a Master item on any page and delete or move it. I like the fact that InDesigns Master items are not accessible unless you make them so.